Abstract
Since 2011, the coasts of North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean have experienced an unusual increase in the arrival of Sargassum. A large amount of Sargassum has caused significant economic losses in the tourism sector of the Dominican Republic as well as the entire Caribbean region. The present article discusses the possible factors contributing toward this unusual increase. Large Sargassum masses are generated in the Sargasso Sea. In this region, several current systems converge with the North Atlantic Subtropical Anticyclone (NASH), which has an area of displacement extending from Brazil to Africa. Sargassum is transported toward Africa, where it meets the Northern Equatorial Recirculation Region (NERR) before recirculating back toward the Caribbean in a clockwise pattern (Putman et al., 2018; Wang, 2007). Upon returning to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, Sargasso grows flowers and distributes across the region. The effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is also analyzed as well as the possible influence of Sahara dust, which acts as a source of nutrients for the growth and development of Sargassum. In the Dominican Republic, the species found in the current study included Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum natans. As for the species Sargassum polyceratium var. ovatum, the variety ovatum has not been reported before on the coasts of the Dominican Republic. Key words: Sargassum arrival, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Azore High.  
Highlights
The arrival of Sargassum is a natural phenomenon caused by the detachment of aggregations of algae from the Sargasso Sea (Figure 1)
The coasts and beaches of the Caribbean region have been engulfed with large amounts of Sargassum, causing significant economic losses, especially in the tourism sector, in addition to affecting marine fauna
Drift lines of S. fluitans and S. natans can often be seen on the surface of the ocean, and both species are frequently found in the drift lines along beaches
Summary
The arrival of Sargassum is a natural phenomenon caused by the detachment of aggregations of algae from the Sargasso Sea (Figure 1). The coasts and beaches of the Caribbean region have been engulfed with large amounts of Sargassum, causing significant economic losses, especially in the tourism sector, in addition to affecting marine fauna. Farlow (1914) first described this phenomenon, which was assumed to be natural. In the latter decade (2010-2019), the amounts of Sargassum arriving at coastlines throughout the Caribbean are alarming, causing enormous economic and ecological impacts. Excess amounts can cause problems, including during the decomposition process, which emits an unpleasant smell and attracts insects
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